tech
February 6, 2026
Experience: I am the Excel world champion
I have been called the LeBron James of spreadsheets, but I try not to take myself too seriously
TL;DR
- The author's journey with Excel began in university for mathematical tasks and evolved through professional use in consulting and banking.
- Excel competitions like ModelOff and the Financial Modelling World Cup transformed into a visually engaging esport, with broadcasts on YouTube and ESPN.
- The championship finals are now held in large arenas, attracting significant audiences and featuring a diverse group of competitors beyond typical "nerdy types."
- The author won the 2025 Microsoft Excel world championship, which was held in Las Vegas, defeating a three-time champion.
- The author finds the community surrounding Excel competitions to be smart, interesting, curious, friendly, and welcoming.
- Beyond competition, the author uses Excel for various applications, including budgeting models for TV shows and sports betting, and even creating a program to play Battleship.
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